Felicia Brower
Colorado Mountain Club has offered a way for outdoor enthusiasts to come together and explore Colorado's wild spaces for more than a century. It's a legacy we're proud to continue today, and it comes with a responsibility to keep these places protected and open for everyone to enjoy.
Public lands, spaces owned collectively by all of us, are meant to be preserved for ecosystems, wildlife, and future generations of adventurers. Instead, they're under threat of destruction and facing massive changes if we don't speak up and let our politicians know how we feel.
Recreating on public lands comes with a responsibility to fight for them, and today, that means providing direct feedback and signing crucial petitions to defend and proactively protect the land.
Below, CMC Conservation Director Brian Bergeler walks us through three key initiatives currently requiring public feedback:
1. Protect the Roadless Rule
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What Is It: "For 25 years, the Roadless Rule has been one of America’s most successful conservation measures, protecting 58.5 million acres of national forests while preserving world-class recreation opportunities, wildlife habitat, and clean drinking water. It was built on unprecedented public support and remains a proven framework for balancing conservation and access to public lands."
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Why It Matters for Colorado: "While Colorado benefits from its own state-specific Roadless Rule, Coloradans have a long tradition of championing public lands beyond our borders. The wild, roadless forests of neighboring states and across the country are part of a shared national legacy, supporting outdoor recreation, wildlife migration, watershed health, and local economies that millions of Americans depend on.
For Colorado Mountain Club and the outdoor community we serve, roadless areas provide some of the nation’s most cherished opportunities for hiking, climbing, backpacking, hunting, fishing, and backcountry exploration. Rescinding the Roadless Rule would put these irreplaceable landscapes and experiences at risk. We encourage everyone who values public lands to make their voice heard by submitting comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture during the current public comment period and urging the agency to maintain and strengthen protections for our nation’s roadless forests.” -
How to Help: The USDA has opened a 30 day comment period, ending October 6th. Speak up and sign Outdoor Alliance's Defend the Roadless Rule petition.
2. Engage in the Travel Management Rule Process
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What Is It: "Travel Management Planning dictates how roads, trails, and open areas on Bureau of Land Management and US Forest Service lands are designated for motorized and non-motorized use. The Travel Management Rule is a cornerstone of responsible public land stewardship and helps ensure that Colorado’s public lands remain healthy, accessible, and welcoming for all."
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Why It Matters for Colorado: "The Travel Management Rule provides a proven framework for protecting wildlife habitat, watersheds, and the natural landscapes that support hiking, climbing, camping, and countless other recreational opportunities. Repealing this rule would undermine the long-term health of the places people depend on for outdoor recreation and weaken a public lands legacy that belongs to all Americans. We should be strengthening this rule, not repealing it.”
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How to Help: Sign Winter Wildlands Alliance's Travel Management Rule petition.
3. Sign the Save Public Lands Petition
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What Is It: "The Save Public Lands campaign is working to take the proactive stance to try and protect our treasured landscapes from efforts to privatize, sell, or diminish public access. They've set a goal to deliver one million signatures to Washington DC and statehouses around the country on Public Lands Day."
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Why It Matters for Colorado: "Colorado's public lands belong to all of us. From hiking trails and wildlife habitat to clean water and outdoor recreation, these places are part of our shared identity and heritage. We must stand up for the places that inspire adventure, support local economies, and connect us to nature."
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How to Help: Sign the Save Public Lands petition by September 26th.
Each of these efforts has the potential to shape the future of Colorado's public lands and wild places. By taking a few minutes to sign these petitions and share them with your community, you can help ensure that future generations continue to experience the same connections to nature that inspire us today.